半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)

はんしんはんぎ
noun
half in doubt; skeptical; not fully convinced
expression
1. half in doubt; skeptical; not fully convinced
A state of being partly convinced and partly doubtful about something. Used when someone cannot fully believe or disbelieve what they have heard or experienced.
半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)で聞(き)いた。
I listened with some skepticism.
その話(はなし)を半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)で受(う)け止(と)めた。
I took the story with a grain of salt.
最初(さいしょ)は半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)だったが、実際(じっさい)に見(み)て納得(なっとく)した。
At first I was skeptical, but after seeing it for myself, I was convinced.

A 四字熟語(よじじゅくご) (four-character idiom) describing a state of mixed belief and doubt. The word literally means 'half belief, half doubt' — the person wants to believe but cannot shake their uncertainty.

Etymology

半(はん) (half) + 信(しん) (belief) + 半(はん) (half) + 疑(ぎ) (doubt)

Common collocations

  • 半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)で聞(き)く: to listen with skepticism
  • 半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)で受(う)け止(と)める: to take something with mixed feelings
  • 半信半疑(はんしんはんぎ)のまま: while still half in doubt

Usage

Often used adverbially with で to describe how someone receives information or takes action. Commonly appears when describing reactions to surprising news, unlikely stories, or unverified claims.

Related Words

Related: 疑(うたが)う (to doubt, to suspect)
general
Added 2026.3.30 6:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
20500/20643_hanshinhangi